[ERROR] Installing any app fails

[profucius]

I installed Pinokio just fine, and the UI loads fine. I go to Discover tab, pick any app (example: ComfyUI) and get it install. I get a couple errors in the beginning that seem potentially relevant. Pasted these below:

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.26100.1591]
(c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

D:\Apps\Pinokio\bin>conda_hook && conda deactivate && conda deactivate && conda deactivate && conda activate base && conda install nodejs ffmpeg -y -c conda-forge
'conda_hook' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

The installer continues on its own. I treaches installing the Microsoft VisualStudio Workload VCTools stage. The installer popups in its own window, seems to install, then closes. However Pinokio then throws the below error, which terminates the installer from proceeding.

D:\Apps\Pinokio\bin>downloading installer: https://github.com/cocktailpeanut/bin/releases/download/vs_buildtools/vs_buildtools.exe...

Downloading https://github.com/cocktailpeanut/bin/releases/download/vs_buildtools/vs_buildtools.exe to D:\Apps\Pinokio\bin...
####################################################################################################
Download Complete!
running installer: vs_buildtools.exe...
start /wait D:\Apps\Pinokio\bin\vs_buildtools.exe  --passive --wait --includeRecommended --nocache --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.VCTools

Error: Command failed: start /wait D:\Apps\Pinokio\bin\vs_buildtools.exe --passive --wait --includeRecommended --nocache --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.VCTools at D:\Apps\[AppData]\Local\Programs\Pinokio\resources\app.asar\node_modules\sudo-prompt-programfiles-x86\index.js:577:25 at FSReqCallback.readFileAfterClose [as oncomplete] (node:internal/fs/read_file_context:68:3)

Screenshot of the above:

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Note: I have UAC disabled, so admin prompts do not show for me. I do not know if that has anything to do with it, but mentioning it anyway.

What can I do to proceed?

[profucius]

At the bottom right of the installation window, it shows these popups (I captured them via OCR):

(4/9) Installing nodejs ffmpeg
conda install nodejs ffmpeg -y -c conda-forge
(6/9) Installing vs
Look for a dialog requesting admin
permission and approve it to proceed- This
will install Microsoft visual studio build tools,
which requred for buldng several python
wheels-

This leads me to believe that the Visual Studio installer is not showing the "admin permission" box it is expecting, but it does install just fine. Screenshot of that below:

[profucius]

Just a note: I tried enabling UAC and rebooted, then tried installing ComfyUI (or other apps) again, and it failed in the same way. So it is not a UAC related issue.